484 
LIVERPOOL chemists’ ASSOCIATION. 
MINOR (as Assistants). 
Bryant, John . 
Knight, John .. 
Williams, James . 
•Bath. 
London. 
.Mildenhall. 
REGISTERED APPRENTICES AND STUDENTS. 
Name. Kesiding with Address. 
Butten, Joseph.Mr. Hemmings.Penzance. 
Cadoux, Samuel Henry .Mr. Chaplin .Colchester. 
Ground, William Davie .Mr. Ekin .Grantham. 
Tomkins, Henry .Mr. Ekins.Bedford. 
PROVINCIAL TRANSACTIONS. 
LIVEKPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Third general meeting, held at the Eoyal Institution, November 22nd. The Pre¬ 
sident in the chair. 
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed. 
The following gentlemen were elected members:—Mr. John Boustead, 91, London 
Road; Mr. L. Fleming, Prescot Street. 
The Secretary exhibited a new aquatic firework, called the “Devil’s Tears,” and ex¬ 
plained their composition and mode of action. 
The President then called upon Mr. Charles Symes to read his paper on “ Pharma¬ 
ceutical Education and Examination, from a Business Point of View.” 
Mr. Symes said: Our calling is one of a very peculiar kind, inasmuch as it involves 
considerable responsibility, requires a large amount of both special and general informa¬ 
tion for the proper performance of its duties, yet includes many minor operations which 
do not require the application of more than ordinary common sense, neither do they tend 
to develope the latent powers of the mind. It is from this inclusive character that it 
must be considered both a profession and trade. He then referred to the low standard 
of qualification demanded by the public some thirty years since; to the difficulties neces¬ 
sarily and bravely encountered by the founders of the Pharmaceutical Society, the boon 
that Society had proved, not only to those within, but also to those outside its pale, and 
the debt of gratitude we owed to its early members (and one in particular) for their self- 
dfinial and large-heartedness in sacrificing personal advantages for the benefit of the 
profession to which they belonged. That Society had already done a great work, but it 
still had a greater one to do. 
In'reference to the education of youths intended for the pharmaceutical calling, Mr. 
Symes thought that it should be less classical and more scientific; he was aware that 
the study of Latin and Greek authors was intended for the development of the mental 
faculties, but whilst a useful object was gained, the means was almost entirely lost; why 
not use a means which, whilst equally effectual, was also valuable in itself ? He thought, 
also, that far too little attention was given by masters requiring apprentices as to 
whether they were really suitable in themselves, or properly educated for the duties they 
would have to perform. He did not wish to speak discouragingly, but equality of mind 
was a thing the world had not, and probably would not ever know. A youth unsuited 
to a dispensing business in town might suit a mixed country business admirably, and 
this appeared to be a favourable point from which to argue classification. Every reflect¬ 
ing mind saw around it many evils which would be remedied if examination became 
more general, and all must agree that compulsory examination would be far better than 
voluntary in effecting this change; in his opinion, however, there should be two degrees 
of qualification; take a man from the west and another from the east, one from town, 
another from the country, and how diverse are the duties they have to perform. The 
pharmaceutical examinations are excellent, and demand nothing which a well qualified 
